MEF, Linux Foundation and ETSI unveil SDN/NFV certification program

As more service providers virtualize parts of their networks, the MEF is serving up its new SDN/NFV professional certification program created as part of its collaboration with the Linux Foundation and ETSI.

MEF-SDN/NFV is an industrywide certification that validates professionals’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in the domains of SDN and NFV, a certification program that will support a new workforce dealing with next-gen software platforms.

The organization now offers three certifications as part of what it calls a comprehensive Professional Certification Framework: MEF-SDN/NFV, MEF Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (MEF-CECP), and MEF Network Foundations (MEF-NF) certifications.

Industry professionals who obtain all three of these certifications qualify for MEF’s Network Expert certification.

Any industry professional interested in the certification program can register for the MEF SDN/NFV, MEF-CECP, and MEF-NF certification exams.

MEF’s current and planned professional certifications will cover the concepts and skills needed to build automated, virtualized, and interconnected networks powered by LSO (Lifecycle Service Orchestration), SDN, NFV, and CE.

Image: MEF

Rick Bauer, director of certification for MEF, told FierceTelecom that the new training program is about enhancing employee skills as service providers and enterprises adopt next-generation virtualization inside their network infrastructure.

“We have created not only the framework, but we added the third professional certification in SDN and NFV,” Bauer said. “The point we’re recognizing more and more is that companies have to more and more to not only pay attention to the technology, but increasingly to the workforce during this period of innovation.”

Bauer added that enhancing the workforce is important as more of the aging telecom and IT employees retire.

“The network is more important and vital,” Bauer said. “All of the Baby Boomer engineers are retiring so we’re losing three-fifths of the existing work force. The skills you need to know are not just Carrier Ethernet or not just SDN, you need to know multiple technologies.”

The beta exam retains full validity as a MEF certification and helps to confirm its rigorous statistical accuracy. MEF Accredited Training Providers can make the final preparations to their training materials following the completion of the beta exam period, which will then allow formal training to begin as well.

This certification program leverages the MEF’s experience in certifying what it says is over 5,700 professionals from 440 companies worldwide and incorporates input from top SDN and NFV experts from the Linux Foundation, ETSI, and other organizations.